Cricket: Test spots poser as batsmen hit form

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Mark Richardson and Matt Horne might have sorted out one problem for the New Zealand selectors at Eden Park yesterday - but may have created an even bigger poser.

Opening Auckland's innings in pursuit of the 383 scored by Northern Districts in the first four sessions of their State Championship match, they made it look easy in reaching 191.

In getting to within six runs of the first wicket record against Canterbury - held by Horne's older brother Phil and another former test opener, Trevor Franklin - Richardson and Horne surely consolidated their claims as the opening pair for the England tests.

If retained, after playing the Boxing Day test against Bangladesh, the selectors must then decide where, and if, Lou Vincent and Mathew Sinclair - who hit 171 for Central Districts in Christchurch yesterday - would bat.

Vincent, in his first test and opening with Richardson in the third test of the series in Australia, scored a century and a half century in Perth, but dropped to No 3 for the Bangladesh test with Sinclair at six.

Nathan Astle is certain to return after being sidelined by injury, so the lower batting spots will be contested by Sinclair, Stephen Fleming, Astle, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns and Vincent.

Richardson was back to his best yesterday.

He kept himself ahead of Horne for most of the innings, seemingly untroubled by the generally accurate and well-varied Northern bowling.

In only his second innings of the competition this summer, Richardson gave the bowlers nothing as he cruised to his century in 210 minutes from 148 deliveries.

He reached the milestone with a glorious straight drive for four off Simon Doull.

Perhaps a trifle frustrated, Horne tried to play catch-up but failed to get Bruce Martin away, eventually falling at 77 to a well-taken caught and bowled effort.

Within minutes Richardson brought up the Auckland 200 in an over in which he mercilessly thumped Joseph Yovich for 14 before Martin trapped him in front for 133.

His 252-minute stay included 20 fours and three sixes and laid the foundation for Auckland's 244 for three.

Martin finished his work with three well-deserved wickets.

Auckland's first task this morning will be get the remaining 140 runs they need for first innings points.

Earlier in the day, Northern resumed at 301 for six and batted through the first session to reach 383 - probably 70 runs short of their hoped-for target.

But for a 57-run last wicket partnership between Yovich and Graeme Aldridge, they would have been even further shy of that mark.

Yovich progressed from his overnight 18 to be unbeaten on 51 when Rob Nicol, with only his third delivery of the day, ended the innings when he had Aldridge caught for a hard-hit 33.

Northern's cause was helped by the 49 extras Auckland handed them as they got through 131.3 overs.

Auckland could be hit with a $1000 fine if they do not get their overs rate up from the 14.03 an hour they managed in Northern's first innings.

* Wellington are poised for victory against bottom-placed Otago going into the third day of their wicket-fest at the Basin Reserve today. Wellington are 92 for three, requiring a further 79 runs for the win.

Otago took first innings points when they bowled the home side out for 108 yesterday, but were unable to take advantage on the bowler-friendly pitch and were dismissed for 140 second time around.

* Canterbury were 108 for five at stumps in reply to Central Districts' 365. Test batsman Mathew Sinclair carried on from his 140 not out overnight to 171. The Canterbury bowlers stuck to the job, and medium-pacer Wade Cornelius finished with five for 91.